When Are You ‘Elderly’?

Gwyneth

Not wishing to high-jack your thread Calendargirl but as many posters including myself, seem to be unhappy with the term ‘elderly’ what other term could be used? Suggestions please!!

term can they

It’s just that ‘elderly’ immediately brings to mind the road sign with a stooped old man and woman, with sticks I think, saying ‘Elderly People’.

Often positioned near a nursing home or similar.

Can’t think of a good alternative, apart from ‘seniors’ which sounds a bit American.

When it is to my advantage. Been on the phone to electricity supplier as we had had our electricity supply line moved and the meter needed to be moved.

Having sorted everything out, day, date and time, I thought, when I rang EDF to get the meter moved, despite thinking that the arrangements were firm, I was told they were doing emergencies only, when a consumer was without power. No problem, we were without power. In which case they would be round in the next 24 hours. Not what I was told on Friday.

I immediately starte whining, 2 elderly people, headng for 80 (77), DH out of hospital still very ill. The engineer arrived at 4.00pm and we now have light and power.

Thats the circumstances where you describe yourself as elderly.

i prefer senior citizen.
suggests wisdom. and being integral to the community.

I became elderly when the Government kindly pointed it out to me March 2020.

Those who were termed elderly when pregnant at 28 were doing OK. I had ‘elderly primagravida’ in my notes at 23!

That was in 1968 and I think the average age for first pregnancy has gone up quite significantly since then.

People are scared of words that remind them if their mortality, like elderly, old, die, death. That’s why euphemisms like ‘pass away’ are common. Being elderly or old is nothing to be ashamed of, so why worry about the words?

That said, when my father first became a grandfather at the age of 64 (my first child) he thought he was far too young.

Ditto "Blinko*

In my book, 'elderly' is at least ten years older than me - at any given age.

I just hate it when you have not seen someone you know well and they say " You are still looking great for your age" why not You look great that is enough.

Just to add, people can be very judgemental and apply long established, outdated stereotypes as soon as they know your age. Also, people are incredibly interested in other people's age! Every newspaper article has the subject's age in brackets. This was explained to me as giving the reader context but what relevance does it have if Jane Smith, who witnessed an incident, is 28 or 68 years old? How does that provide the reader with context? Age is just a number. My number will be 69 on the 11th of this month. What does that tell anyone about me, my health, my status, my education, my achievements etc? All these things are individual and unique to me. It does allow me to be patronised or dismissed out of hand, though.

Rant? Moi? ?

Wow amazing Misschateline.

So maybe it would be better not to use ‘ elderly’ at all. Maybe over 60, 70, 80 etc.

Elderly......never, ...even though I get my first pension payment next Monday.
I still feel much the same as I did in my 30’s.I still walk 10 miles a day, run up and down several flights of stairs, my Fitbit says 112 flights so far today and when it’s not so damp outside I enjoy climbing my favourite tree in the woods much to the delight of my grandchildren. I don’t think I will ever feel elderly!

When my Nan was in her 70's, we asked her why she didn't go with Granddad some afternoons to the club for pensioners. She said ' I ay gooing there, tis full of old folk' She was Black Country through and through.

My Mum is 91 and I don't think of her as elderly, as she still does all her housework, gardening etc.

I'm 'older' than many people, grandMattie, but that doesn't make me old. It's a very limiting word.

What’s happened to “old”?

Not wishing to high-jack your thread Calendargirl but as many posters including myself, seem to be unhappy with the term ‘elderly’ what other term could be used? Suggestions please!!







term can they

I won't be 'elderly' while I can still do this:

Blinko

In my book, 'elderly' is at least ten years older than me - at any given age.

Spot on Blinko

MY mother returned from a cruise and said it was full of old people. She was 84.

A nice family were walking towards me and the little girl said “move to the side mummy there’s an old lady coming” Aaaargh! I’m 71.

When my grandad was taken into hospital for the first time at 86, he was mortified to be put in the geriatric ward.

My mum is 98 now and has finally admitted she’s elderly ?. It’s not that long ago she was letting people go in front of her at the post office because they were ‘old’. ?‍♀️

When it suits me!!

In the hospital where my daughter trained they only admitted patients to the geriatric wards if they were over 85yo and even then, only if the geriatric unit could offer something other wards couldn’t. I found that very cheering.

Oldbat1. I was an elderly primagravid at 28 too. So sorry to hear about your husband. Get on the phone and see if you can find someone to accelerate the repair for you. Best wishes.

And so say all of us EV
?